Ian Kinsler leads all major league second basemen in slugging, OPS and WAR. / Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul White, USA TODAY Sports

They may earn their way to the All-Star Game by online ballot or injury replacement. But for now, here's a quintet of players who deserve a spot in the July 15 Midsummer Classic in Minneapolis:

Garrett Richards, P, Angels: There's little question what you'll get from the 26-year-old right-hander. Richards' 96.1 mph average fastball is second only to Kansas City's Yordano Ventura among major league starting pitchers. Richards is 10-2 on a team that has vaulted from a couple of down years into a playoff position.

Richards has emerged in his fourth major league season, but first as a full-time starter, by polishing his game. He's increased his strikeout rate from last year by 50%, which has helped him limit opponents to 6.36 hits per nine innings, the second-best ratio in the American League.

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Chris Sale, P, White Sox: So, Clayton Kershaw is an obvious All-Star despite being limited by injury to 87 innings. His 3.8 wins above replacement backs that statement. But Sale is relegated to the final vote despite the same WAR, which ranks fourth among AL pitchers, in the same number of innings.

If you prefer traditional stats, he's second to Felix Hernandez in AL ERA, has an 8-1 record and is allowing the fewest base runners per inning among AL starters.

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Huston Street, P, Padres: Don't penalize him because he doesn't get as many save opportunities while pitching for San Diego. He has a 1.13 earned average and just doesn't allow people to get on base â?? try 18 hits in 32 innings.

It's a tough call determining the most-snubbed Padre, but Street edges out outfielder Seth Smith, who also can make a pretty good case.

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Koji Uehara, P, Red Sox: Give AL manager John Farrell points for not going the "my-guy" route. The Boston closer is the best in the league in his role.

He has a 1.30 earned run average and his .175 opponents' batting average and .207 opponents on-base percentage is matched among AL closers only by Oakland All-Star Sean Doolittle.

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Ian Kinsler, Tigers: He deserves to start for the American League, let alone be on the roster. Kinsler leads everyone in the majors at his position in OPS, slugging and wins above replacement. In fact, his WAR trails only Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson among AL position players. Kinsler is second in the league in runs â?? behind Twins 2B Brian Dozier, whose other stats don't come close to Kinsler's..